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Air Bag deployment

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Old May 2, 2019 | 12:14 PM
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Air Bag deployment

Does anyone know the criteria for the computer to deploy the airbag during a collision in terms of vehicle speed, pressure on the bumper and any other factors. We had a vehicle with substantial damage to the front bumper and the airbag did not trigger. Wondering if it is defective or impact was not hard enough? What controls the trigger for this?
 
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Old May 2, 2019 | 12:32 PM
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There are many factors:
https://www.consumeraffairs.com/news...eployment.html

Speed doesn't dictate it but how quickly the impact is and how fast the vehicle stops/changes direction will be more important that speed and amount of damage.
 
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Old May 2, 2019 | 01:48 PM
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Damage to the structure behind the bumper should get you some airbag action. If you are properly belted, you don't need the front airbag under 30 mph, give or take. Be glad it didn't go off.
 
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Old May 3, 2019 | 07:23 PM
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My 17 didn't deploy in a 20 mph overlap crash but the side curtain did.
 
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Old May 3, 2019 | 10:48 PM
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog
My 17 didn't deploy in a 20 mph overlap crash but the side curtain did.
Do you think you needed it for that crash? I can see an overlap putting you into the window and door frame, but I was just wondering.

Sorry for your crash. (? I guess that's what to say....)
 
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Old May 4, 2019 | 06:51 AM
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1. Speed?

2. angle of impact.

3. location of damage.

Normally damage to the front bumper only will not activate the air bags. Owners manual says:

The driver and front passenger airbags will
deploy during significant frontal and near
frontal crashes.


If all you have to replace is the front bumper, it's all good.
 
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Old May 5, 2019 | 12:01 AM
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Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
Do you think you needed it for that crash? I can see an overlap putting you into the window and door frame, but I was just wondering.

Sorry for your crash. (? I guess that's what to say....)
Probably would not have changed the outcome. Had some whiplash but ended up with more injuries on my legs than anything. I don't think the airbag would have changed anything. The truck was a total loss after the event.
 
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Old May 6, 2019 | 11:24 AM
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If it hit a guard rail first, it is designed not to inflate. The angle makes a difference. A guard rail can make the damage look bad. If you were going 60 and slid on a guardrail for a minute, airbags won't go off. Side curtains might though.
 
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